The Shamrock or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. To which are subjoined thoughts on the prevailing system of school education, respecting young ladies as well as gentlemen: with practical proposals for a reformation [by Samuel Whyte] |
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A PERSIAN TALE |
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 | The Shamrock |  |
A PERSIAN TALE
Inscribed to Master JAMES NUGENT, of Clonlost.
An humble Dervise liv'd of yore;
No Treasures he possess'd;
Yet was his Mind, with Wisdom's Store,
And Heaven's Protection bless'd.
Full fourscore well-spent, holy Years,
A Pilgrim's Life he led:
Serenely gay the Saint appears;
For Angels gave him Bread.
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The Peace of God bespeak;
His Eyes with Warmth celestial glow;
With rosy Health, his Cheek.
At Mecca, he had often been,
And every holy Place;
The bless'd Elias oft had seen
Corporeal Face to Face.
It happen'd once, at Bairam's Feast,
To fair Spahoun he came:
A Raja claim'd him for his Guest,
In Honour of his Fame.
The pious Pilgrim bless'd the Board,
With costly Viands crown'd,
Regardless of the splendid Hoard,
That glittered all around.
A Pot of Sweetmeats near him stood;
On this he cast an Eye;
Seem'd quite forgetful of his Food,
And drown'd in Revery.
But gushing Tears, at length, betray'd
The Anguish of his Breast;
And heavy Sighs their Passage made,
That shew'd an Heart oppress'd.
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The prudent Sage began,
‘In this small Vessel you may see
‘The History of Man.
‘This Pot an Emblem true conveys
‘Of Earth, and all its Joys;
‘And shews the thousand various Ways,
‘How Man himself destroys—
‘Behold the busy, anxious Flies,
‘That hover round these Sweets,
‘See! how, like us, each Insect vies,
‘'Till each his Ruin meets.
‘Some on the Borders gently tread,
‘And sip with cautious Touch,
‘While others eagerly are led
‘To plunge, and take too much.
‘The first, from Danger soon are freed,
‘By no strong Tye detain'd;
‘The second, justly are decreed
‘The Death their Rashness gain'd.
‘Hence, Mortals, wisely learn to shun
‘False Pleasure's fatal Cup:
‘Drink lightly; or you 'll be undone,
‘Engulph'd and swallow'd up.
‘You, like the one, who gently taste,
‘When Aziel calls aloud,
‘To bless'd Abodes, with Joy shall haste,
‘And quit the giddy Croud:
‘But, if, by Passions blindly led,
‘That no true Medium know,
‘With quick Destruction on your Head,
‘You'll sink to endless Woe.
| The Shamrock | |